Folding chair



Jan. 3, 1956 Filed Dec. 14, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi 5 [J .24 /7 l .7INVENTOR.

l/d/Fffl/V 50910? 27 ATORNEY Jan. 3, 1956 Filed Dec. 14, 195] M. D.RECHLER FOLDING CHAIR 4 Sheets$heet 2 .A TORNEY Jan. 3, 1956 M. D.RECHLER 2,729,277

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Dec. 14, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1956Filed Dec. 14. 1951 M. D. RECHLER 2,729,277

FOLDING CHAIR INVENTOR. MflfiVW/V 0. 55094157? ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 2.72 .217 FOLDING CHAIR Morton D. Rechler, New York, N. Y.,assignor to Rexart Metal Industries Inc Whitestnne, N. Y., a corporationof New York This invention relates to folding chairs, one of the objectsbeing to provide a light weight construction designed to operate easilyand requiring small space when folded.

There is provided a pivotal arrangement at the rear of the chair for theseat, back, and rear leg frames. Stops or extensions associated with thechair furnish fulcrum points to rest upon actuating linkage whichconnects the front leg frame to the rear leg frame. The arrangement ofthese extensions with respect to the pivotal attaching point of theactuating linkage to the rear leg frame is such as not to require anylocking means in the unfolded position of the chair. The linkageoperates to open and close the chair with a single motion applied to theseat and back frames. When the chair is being opened the extensions comeinto contact with the linkage stopping the unfolding'action at the rightpoint for seatmg.

Another feature is the provision of a novel spring connection betweenthe back frame and the rear leg frame. This spring exerts maximumtension at the full open position, holdsthe frames in that position, andprevents the chair from being tripped. The spring has only nominalaction once the'folding is started, and consequently the chair is easyto close. It also aids in opening the chair.

A further feature is the provision of simple adjusting means whereby theback may be easily changed to different positions of inclination whileoccupying the chair.

In the drawings forming? part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the chair according to my invention,

F g- 2 a frasmen al d ail of heframes adjacen t rear of the h r in the et n of arrows 27 F g- 3 a ta l. in .se on 9n th line'3 o Pie 1.

gv 4 a d tail on. line 4+4, of Fig 5 at the treat f an arm rest,

Fig. 5 a central section through the chair in.the act of folding,

Fig. 6 a central section of the folded chair,

Fig. 7 a plan view of the folded chair seen from underneath,

Fig. 8 a folded view in side elevation,

Fig. 9 a view partly sectioned of back adjusting means,

Fig. 10 a cross section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 a similar section with the parts adjusted, and

Fig. 12 a side view of the folded parts.

In the drawing the numeral 10 indicates the chair in general. It has aseat frame 11, front leg frame 12, rear leg frame 13, back frame 14, armrests 15, actuating links 16, pivot bar 17, and a tension spring 18,connected together by suitable fasteners, presenting the appearanceshown in Fig. 1 when opened for use.

The bar 17 acts as a common pivotal mounting for the flattened ends 20,21, 22 respectively of the seat, rear leg, and back frames, these beingswingably mounted on the bar as shown for example in Fig. 3 where aspecial 2,729,277 Patented Jan. 3, 1956 2 machine screw 23 is tightlythreaded into bore 24 to eliminate the need of pinning. This screwcarries a large head 25 having shoulder 26 which confines the threeframe ends and washers 27 against the end of the bar 17, there beingenough play to allow the frames to swing freely during closing andopening.

The frames are preferably of one piece U-shaped tubular formation madefrom aluminum stock and have the same pivotal arrangement at both sidesas seen in Fig. 7.

The forward portion of seat frame 11 is pivoted at 30 to front leg frame12, the upper ends of the latter being pivoted at 31 in brackets 32which are fastened by screws 33 to the under side of the arm rests 15.Fiber washers are desirable at 34 and at other joints throughout thestructure to give smooth action in manipulating the frames.

The back frame 14 is secured by pivot screws 35 to the rear side edgesof the arm rests. For simplicity the coil spring 18 is anchored at oneend 36 to the screw 35, and at the other end to the pivot bolt 37 whichse cures the back end of link 16 to rear leg frame 13 below bar 17. Theforward end 38 of the actuating link is pivoted at 31 to the bracket 32.As seen in Fig. 1 the spring 18 is bridged vertically between the frames13, 14 and exerts tension behind the pivotal axis of bar 17 holding thechair open for use without the need of a lock up, and the chair isfurther prevented from being tripped. In the sitting position the head25 of screw 23 rests upon link 16 establishing the rearward reach ofrear leg 13. The spring 18 being always under tension enables the chairto be lifted or moved along the supporting surface without collapsing.

In Fig. 5 it will be noted that during the closing oper ation the actionof links 16 caused by motion applied to the seat and back frames resultsin wrapping spring 18 partially around pivot bar 17. The springtherefore has only negligible resistance once the folding is started.The final position is reached in Fig. 6 where the links and the springare contained within the outlines of the folded framework, and thepulling effort of the spring is practically neutralized. However, thespring comes into action as an aid in opening the chair when the usermoves the back and seat frames apart.

Seat and back covers have not been shown since they may be of variousforms and attached in different ways to fit the framework. It is to benoted that the pivot bar 17 serves to complete the seat and back framesinto rectangles providing anchorage points for loops or other coverfastenings.

The inclination of the back may be made adjustable by the arrangementshown in Figs. 9 to 12 wherein a metal adjusting piece in the form of abridge 40 is fastened by screws 41 to the under side of each arm rest15. The bridge 40 has a line of corrugations defining notches 42 and isspaced from the face 43 of arm rest 15 to provide operating room for theclamping web portion 44 of a latch 45 pivoted at 46 to the upper end ofthe leg frame 12 A pin or bolt 47 extends crosswise of latch 45 and isadapted to engage a notch of the bridge while the clamping portion 44bites down upon the upper side 48 (see Fig. 11) to hold the parts inadjusted position corresponding to a selected inclination of the backframe 14.

When another adjustment is wanted the arm rests 15 are raised slightlyas indicated by arrow A (Fig. 10) where a light spring 49 has rocked thelatch 45 to bring stop 50 against the top edge 51 of the leg frame 12.This holds the latch in a position to clear the pin from the notches 42allowing the bridge to be run back and forth through the clearancesbetween the clamp 44 and the pin 47. When a desired inclination has beenchosen a down pressure (see arrow B, Fig. 11) on the arm rest engages anotch 42 against pin bolt 47. As the occupant leans back the arm restsmove back (arrow C). This rocks latch 45 about its pivot 46 to bringclamping portion 44 down angularly against bridge 40. The stop 50 isshown in the present example as an offset 52 of the generally U-shapedlatch 45 which straddles the top of leg frame 12. Pivot 46 may be formedby a suitable fastener such as a bolt passed through aligned holes 53 inends 54 and having sufficient looseness to allow free play for thelatch. The spring element 49 is shown as light spring wire looped aroundthe pivot bolt 46 and having its opposite ends 55 gripped under the head56 and nut 57 of pin bolt 47. When the chair is being folded the latch45 moves to the inner end of the bridge, and the parts come to thepositions indicated in Fig. 12. The actuating links 16 are pivotallytied to the bolts 46 for simplicity, the joints being loose enough toallow full freedom for the adjusting elements. A person may leave orreoccupy the chair without disturbing the adjustment of the arm restssince their weight against the light springs 49 is sufiicient to holdthe latches in their slanting engagement with the notches.

In the present example the bar 17 forms a common axis for the threeframes 11, 13, 14. However, other and individual pivots may be used. Forinstance either of frames 13 and 14 could be separately pivoted on frame11 to fold and coact with spring 18. The claims are intended to embracesuch modifications.

i claim:

1. A folding chair comprising a seat frame, rear leg frame, back frame,a common pivot member at the rear of the chair upon which the foregoingthree frames are swingably mounted, the back frame extending rearwardlyand upwardly and the rear leg frame extending rearwardly and downwardlyfrom the pivot member when the chair is open for use, a tension springbridged between points respectively on the back frame and the rear legframe spaced with respect to the pivot member, said spring extending inspaced relation to and behind the pivot member when the chair is openfor use, a front leg frame pivoted to the seat frame with its upperportions extending above the seat frame, arm rests pivoted to the backframe, the forward ends of the arm rests being pivoted to the front legframe above the seat frame, actuating links respectively connecting theupper portions of the front leg frame to the respective sides of therear leg frame below the position of the pivot member when the chair isopen for use, and extensions carried by the pivot member restingrespectively upon the links when the chair is open for use.

2. A folding chair comprising a seat frame, rear leg frame, back frame,means for cooperatively pivoting the three frames at the rear of thechair enabling them to be folded compactly or opened for use, the backframe extending rearwardly and upwardly and the rear leg frame extendingrearwardly and downwardly from the pivot means when the chair is openfor use, a tension spring bridged between points respectively on theback frame and the rear leg frame spaced with respect to the pivotmeans, said spring being located in a position to the rear of the pivotmeans where it is adapted to hold back frame and the rear leg frame openwhen the chair is open for use, a front leg frame pivoted to the seatframe with its upper portions extending above the seat frame, arm restspivoted to the back frame, the forward ends of the arm rest beingpivoted to the front leg frame above the position of the seat frame,actuating link respectively connecting the upper portions of the frontleg frame to the respective sides of the rear leg frame, and a stop oneach side of the chair resting upon said respective links when the chairis open for use under tension of the spring.

3. A folding chair as defined in claim 2, in which the pivoting meanscomprises a cross bar on which the seat frame, the rear leg frame, andthe back frame are pivoted and around which the tension spring ispartially wrapped when the parts of the chair are moved to folded closedposition.

4. A folding chair comprising a seat frame, rear leg frame, back frame,pivot means at the rear of the chair upon which the respective sides ofthe foregoing three frames are swingably mounted on a common axis, theback frame extending rearwardly and upwardly and the rear leg frameextending rearwardly and downwardly from the pivot means when the chairis open for use, a tensions spring bridged between points respectivelyon the back frame and the rear leg frame spaced with respect to thecommon pivot axis, said spring being located in spaced relation to andbehind the position of said common pivot axis when the chair is open foruse, the ends of the tension spring being connected respectively to theback frame and rear leg frame at said points, a front leg frame pivotedto the seat frame with its upper portions extending above the seat frameat the respective sides of the chair, arm rests pivoted to the backframe, the forward ends of the arm rests being pivoted respectively tothe upper portions of the front leg frame above the seat frame,actuating links respectively connecting the upper portions of the frontleg frame to the respective sides of the rear leg frame below theposition of the pivot means, and extensions respectively carried by thepivot means on each side of the chair resting respectively upon the likswhen the chair is open for use, said tension spring biasing the rear legframe, the back frame and the front leg frame to their open chairpositions when the chair is open for use and the tension spring extendsbehind and in spaced relation to the common pivot axis of the pivotmeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS887,267 Petry May 12, 1908 1,162,598 Gallup Nov. 30, 1915 2,059,940Freedman Nov. 3, 1936 2,225,306 Kovats Dec. 17, 1940 2,452,405 VincentOct. 26, 1948 2,467,909 Rechler Apr. 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 620,228France Jan. 15, 1927 693,552 Germany July 13, 1940 838,219 France Nov.28, 1938 968,807 France May 3, 1950

